Prophecies

Prophecies in Tyga and Valla are a tricky thing as they usually come from the mouths of demons. Several major ones exist and are critical to the story, though their interpretation is up for debate.

Creation
Many prophecies' creation begins from the mouths of demons, for whom time is a flexible thing. If they are real and how to interpret them is debatable though the major players in Tyga consider them to be recipes. "'There's a prophecy. Actually no, it's more like a thousand prophecies. It's the collected ramblings of thousands of people, the demons possessing them, and whole orders of scholars have spent centuries trying to pull any kind of coherent meaning from them.'"The series gives several locations for more 'reliable' prophecies as well as some which serve to only confuse the matter. There are likely more out there as one of the characteristics of these prophecies is their volume and ability to cause obsession in their readers.

*Devoran Prophecies
These recordings seem to be fairly relied upon by many. They are likely connected to the Devors islands, which lie just south of the Capital and part of the Empire but not part of any one domain. The Devoran priests are known group throughout the Empire.

*Sayings of Sephis
This also seems to be a fairly reliable source for prophecies as Tyentso refers to them.

*The Scrolls of Fate
The reliability of this source is in question. Though Tyentso lists then as one of the major sources of information on prophecies, Thurvishar D'Lorus is quick to point out that he believes these are not complete factual stating: "I'm not convinced the Scrolls of Fate aren't a clever hoax perpetrated by someone trying to muddy the water - or simply profit off the fascination so many hold for prophecies."

Are They Real Prophecies?
Many people look upon the prophecies with doubt, which is understandable given that it seems someone fulfills them, only for the end of the world not to come. "''Stories,' Milligreest growled. 'God-king tales. The delusional fancies of superstitious, crazed men and women who hide from reality of the world. Prophets, seers, and insane monks have been foretelling the end of times since the beginning of the Empire, and always the danger is right on our doorstep. Something must be done.' Kihrin turned to the High General. 'So it's just a way of selling something?' The High General let out a bark of laughter. 'Just a way of selling something? Oh yes. Oh yes, indeed.' He chuckled, clasped the young man on the shoulder enough to stagger the boy, and then looked forlornly into his goblet. 'My drink is empty, as was foretold. Something must be done.' With that, he stalked into the crowd.'"However they might not be as false as they first sound. For one, the lines are all from demon possessed people, and therefore could be considered from the mouths of the demons themselves. Demons do not experience time in the same way as the four races, therefore allowing for the possibility that time can be manipulated by them enough to know the future. (Additional information on demons found in Memory of Souls) Also because some of the key players in the series consider the prophecies real, others are forced to do so as well to keep up with them. For example, Relos Var believes in the prophecies are like recipes, forcing the Eight to think of them this way as well in order to try to stay ahead of him. "''What about the prophecies? Are those even real- or are they just a propaganda game played by one side against the other?' [Thaena] walked behind me and gathered my hair, pulling it over one of my shoulders. 'For a very long time we assumed they were a long-term mind game being played by the demons. Then more and more of the prophecies began to be fulfilled, in very specific ways. Now we are mostly trying to discover if they are a prediction of unavoidable events given by a race that does not perceive time the same way we do, or if they are instructions on how to derive a specific outcome. Are they colorful future histories or recipes couched in symbolism?' 'Which way are you leaning?' 'Towards the recipies,' Thaena admitted. 'Plus, Relos Var seems to be interpreting it that way, so we can't afford not to as well.' 'So you're trying to stack the deck. Just like they are. You'll have all the trumps in your hand when you figure it out.' ... 'Yes. And since it is difficult to repeat certain variable, it may be that we will never have this chance again.'"

Major Prophecies
Below is a list of major prophecies currently known, their background when known, and discussion of their meaning. Please note the theories about meaning can hold major SPOILERS and is very subjective.

Wizard, Thief, Knight, King
"'Wizard, thief, knight, and king.The children will not know the names of their fathers, who quiet the voices of their sting.'"ORIGIN/LOCATION: It first appears in the text carved into the portrait of Pedron D'Mon who believed he fulfilled the prophecy.

HISTORY: Pedron D'Mon and Gadrith D'Lorus both attempted to fulfill this prophecy. They believed the lines referred to Ogenra who were later made legitimate, and so therefore who did not know the names of their fathers. They believed Pedron was the Thief as the head of the Shadowdancers, and Gadrith was the Wizard. Speculation over who the knight and king were remains.

THEORY 1: (SPOILER WARNING) This prophecy might refer two other possible groups. The first possibility is it may reference Therin D'Mon, Sandus, Qoran Milligreest, and Nikali (Doc). Therin would be the thief as he continues to run the Shadowdancers that Pedron began, Sandus would be the wizard, Qoran would be the knight with his natural ability, and Nikali could be the King, given that he was Kirpis vane King before his soul switch. Therin was believed to be Kesian D'Mon's son but was Pedron's. For the others, not enough is known about these men to justify any other connection to this line. This group did have many adventures in Quur, but it is unknown how they could have created the last part of the lines.

THEORY 2: (SPOILER WARNING) A more likely explanation for this prophecy is that it references Kihrin and his three friends, especially as this lends credit to the idea they four make up the Hellwarrior. In this theory, Kihrin is the thief, Janel is the knight, Teraeth is the King (it'll make sense later on I promise), and Thurvishar is the wizard, though it is possible those roles might move around some given the coming installments of the series. What REALLY lends this theory credit is that each of these people do not know their fathers or have had their father's misrepresented by history. Everyone believed Kihrin's father was Darzin when it was actually Therin, Janel's father was not a Theranon but instead Qoran Milligreest, Teraeth learned his father before the series was Terindel/Mithrail/Doc, and Thurvishar was believed by all to be son of Gadrith D'Lorus when he is actually Emperor Sandus's son. Each of these people did not know their father or had their father misrepresented. Finally the last line may refer to actions of Kihrin, Janel, Teraeth, and Thurvishar which have yet to come to pass but might also refer the actions of their fathers and their involvements in the Affair of the Voices.

Hail to the Lawbreaker // Found the Hawk
"'Hail to the Lawbreaker; Hail to the Thief of Souls; Hail to the Prince of Swords. Long will we search for the lion, until at last we find the hawk. Our king who will free us from ruin, The long suffering of our souls unlocked.'"ORIGIN/LOCATION: This prophecy is first voiced in the series by Xaltorath, when the demon finds Kihrin. It existed long before and is quoted fully by Thurvishar in the footnotes who locates it in the text: A Study of Demonic Possession in Quur.

HISTORY: Again, Gadrith D'Lorus and many others believed this referred to Gadrith. This is greatly due to Gadrith's skill at manipulating souls and his experience in demonology. It also lead him to believe that he would be the one find Urthaenriel which was one of his true purposes for becoming Emperor. He is likely not the full answer when considering that as the demons are the ones speaking this prophecy, the 'we' is referring to the demons. While Gadrith does intend to free the demons, he intends to only do so through a Hellmarch in the Capital, not permanent freedom. The demons were also not 'finding' a hawk in him.

THEORY 1: (SPOILER WARNING) This is most likely referring to Kihrin. First, and most telling, is that the demons, mainly Xaltorath were long searching for Janel, commonly referred to in the text as a lion (and a daughter of Qoran Milligreest, who is closely associated with House D'Talus, who's heraldic symbol is a lion). Xaltorath suddenly finds Kihrin, who (though not knowing it then) could be considered a hawk as he is a Therin's son, a member of House D'Mon, who's heraldic symbol is a hawk. The other titles fit Kihrin as well. Kihrin is a lawbreaker in several ways, he grew up a thief, later will become an unlicensed mage, and will, technically, kill the Emperor. He also could be considered the Thief of Souls as he at that time holds the Stone of Shackles. Additionally he in the Afterlife literally steals the heart of the dragon Rol'amar. Lastly he can also be called the Prince of Swords as he will come to possess Urthaenriel, and has a special connection with the sword. As for the last line Kihrin does free the demons by destroying the Stone of Shackles. The only question which remains is if he is now considered their King. This is answered in Memory of Souls....but that hasn't come out yet. ;D Also in support of this theory is the Voice Caerowan's conversation with Kihrin at the New Year's Ball held by the D'Mon's where he seems to drop several random hints. He states that Therin means half lion in Old Guarem, and asks Kihrin about his knowledge of gryphons, which are half lions and half eagles. It is possible he could be referring to Kihrin's actual parent's creating a gryphon, which ties him to a hawk and lion. Kihrin's name is even a combination of Therin's and Lady Miya's real name, Khaeriel, taking the Khae- (which got mistranslated into Kih-, evidenced by Talon's supposed mispronunciation of it when she first learns it which is likely not a mispronunciation at all ) and the -rin. If this then has anything to do with the Gryphon men, that has yet to be seen.

Hellwarrior
"''...[They] believe the prophecies refer to an end of time, a great cataclysm, when a single man of vast evil will rise up. The 'Hellwarrior' will conquer the Manol, strip the vane of our immortality, kill the Emperor, destroy the Empire of Quur, and free the demons. In his right hand he will hold Urthaenriel, and with his left he will crush the world and remake it as he desires.' Teraeth sipped at his cup. 'Presumably by wiping away the old gods and replacing them with himself, as is tradition.' 'Sounds like a sweetheart.'"ORIGIN/LOCATION: This "Hellwarrior" gets several mentions in the text, but we do not yet have a direct prophecy. Teraeth says above that all the prophecies lead to this tale, of the Hellwarrior destroying it all.

HISTORY: It is likely Gadrith saw himself somewhere in their prophecy as well given that he believed himself to be the chosen one in so many of the others (and they his desire to possess Urthaenriel and in some degree free the demons), however it is not directly stated.

THEORY 1: (SPOILER WARNING) This is one of the major clashes between Relos Var and the Eight: who is the Hellwarrior. And its not so much a search for the person, but a setting up of the right conditions, or as Khaemezra/Thaena refers to it, using the prophecies as recipes. Relos Var believes he has found the answer in Duke Kaen of Yor (or at least he plays it that way), and later at his death, in his zombie like wife. This theory struggles because it does not fit the full description of the Hellwarrior we have later:"There are a set of prophecies,' Lady Miya whispered to Kihrin, 'that foretell the end of the world, ushered in by a herald called War Child, or the Hellwarrior, or Demon King, or Godslayer. The End Bringer who will usher in the annihilation of our world."THEORY 2: (SPOILER WARNING) In this theory the Hellwarrior is not actually one person, but a combination of four. The prophecies call the Hellwarrior other titles: War Child, Hellwarrior, Demon King, Godslayer. It is possible all these refer to Kihrin and his three friends, Janel, Teraeth, and Thurvishar. Aligning them to a specific title though is tricky as each has claim to multiple titles for various reasons. Kihrin himself believes this theory at the start of The Name of All Things, and it is why he sets off to find the Black Knight.

THEORY 3: (SPOILER WARNING) The last possible explanation for who the Hellwarrior might be requires knowledge of the third book for complete explanation, but in summary, the Hellwarrior might be Vol Karoth. This is in consideration especially that Vol Karoth is referred to as the War Child. Again, further evidence requires knowledge of the third installment, and so shall be added later after release.

Soul in the Stars
"And the Prince of Swords shall keep his soul in the stars"ORIGIN/LOCATION: This prophecy is first read by Khaemezra/Thaena after she moves the part of Kihrin's soul in the gaesh to the star tear diamonds.

THEORY 1: (SPOILER WARNING) This line most certainly refers to Kihrin. Not only does he have a right to be called the Prince of Swords due to his unique connection to Urthaenriel, but Thaena ensures he fulfills these lines. She is the one who moves part of Kihrin's soul from his hawk medallion to the Star Tear Diamond necklace. She even refers to having done it so as to aid along the prophecy. This also ties Kihrin to the title of Prince of Swords more firmly, and therefore to the other prophecies as well.

Great City Burns/First Known Death
"And ash will fall from the sky as the Great City burns, and the howls of sinners will echo with the screams of the righteous, for the Thief of Souls has come. When the demons are freed, no man shall wear the crown but has first known death."ORIGIN/LOCATION: These lines are first told to us by Tyentso as she Doc, Teraeth, and Kihrin try to identify what is coming next. The exact lines are from the Sayings of Sephis, but Tyentso says their are Devoran Prophecies which say the same.

THEORY 1: (SPOILER WARNING) Right, so here is the beauty of Jenn Lyon's magic here. This prophecy likely refers to TWO things at the exact same time, both of which are true. So it first refers to Gadrith's crowning. He was 'killed' and had known death both by Nikali's hand years before and by Emperor Sandus's hand. However, because he possessed the Stone of Shackles and had the ability to manipulate souls, he was known as the Thief of Souls. He also is the one who caused the City to burn in the first place when he began his Hellmarch, setting the city ablaze and indiscriminately attacking citizens. This ALSO refers to Tyentso's crowning as Empress. While the first lines may refer to Gadrith still, the second line might also refer to her. She was Empress only because she was technically killed by Gadrith and left in the Arena before being Returned by Thaena at the right time to claim the crown and scepter. To support the lines also say 'no man' which can refer to both Gadrith and Tyentso as Tyentso is a woman, and Gadrith is a husk of a being, not a full whole man.